Key for cylinder locks



Oct. 7,1947. B-V5TERNER I I Y KEY FOR CYLINDER LOCKS Filed April 23, 1945 FIG. 8

Inventor EMA/m0 s'nERn/sg Attorneys Patented a. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT "oFFic-E- iifli iififififi Application April .23, 1945, Serial No. 589,840 ,In Great'Britain May 19, 1944.

' looks.

The kind ofkey to which the invention relates is that comprising a holder, a number of pins or bits which can be set in different positions by being displaced lengthwise in the holder, and locking means whereby the 'pins orbits can-be locked in any positionsin which they'have been set or can be unlocked so as to be displaceable in the holder for adjustment purposes. There- 'fore, by properly adjusting the pins in accordance with the combination of the lock, a'single key can be used for .a very large numberof locks; also, if the pins are set incorrectly after the key has been used, .there is no need'to place thekey in ,a safe place because, owing'to the large num ber of combinations possible, the danger of the correct combination for a particularlock being found by trial by an .un-authorised person isalmost infinitesimal,

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved key of the kind set forth'in which any pin can be readily displaced without freeing or unlocking any other pins to such an extent that such-other pins become liable to accidental displacement during the setting operation. A further objectis to providea key which can be easily manipul'atedjin the dark or by blind personsand which is. compactand'of small size.

Accordi to ;the.'1nvention,,each pin is "provided. with individual means which, when the locking means is unlocked, retains it in its adjusted position against accidental shifting =but permits it 'to be ,forcibly displaced for setting purposes. Therefore; when adjusting one of the pinsjthe possi bil ity 30f ot-hei1s being displaced, for example -by gravity, and-the'reby upsetting the combination isreduced to-aminimum.

"For retaining the-ypinsdn-position when the locking means unlocked, each pin may be formed with anumberof teeth in the form of a rack with whichan individua-l detent yieldin'gly engages. "Theglocking' means may consist of a displaceable sleeve 01" cap which, -"in the locked position, engages over-the teeth on '"thepins and the detentsso as to preventthe latterfrom yielding and thereby; 1ocks-thepins=in the positions in which they havebeen set, and, -in-the unlocked position, is removed "away -f-rom thedetents, so

that, although-the detents still remain in en ;gagement with-the teeth on the-pins, it'is possible to adjust any pin by moving it forcibly in its longitudinal direction without releasing the deitent oi any other pin, since-the detentonly of the pinto be adjusted thenyields and clicks :over

l'lfilaims. (Cl. 70-411) 'tached tothe plate engage.

the detent key is symmetrical, thatwhen the key is'held' in up for insertion in-the lock.

*2 the teeth of the rack in ratchet fashion making setting possible by sound or sense of touch.

In a preferred formof key in accordance with the invention, the holder comprises axpla'te provided on-one-or both sides with grooves orchannels in which the pins are slidable lengthwise. At one end the pins are formed with teeth inthe form of a rack with which spring detents :at-

A sleeve or cap is slidable over the end of the plate and canfibe moved into a position in which it bears against the detents so as to '-hold them in engagement with the teeth on thepi-ns and thereby fix the pinsin position, or the sleeve-or-cap can be displaced into a position inwhich thedetents are exmeans wherebyit is automatically locked when it is slid into the 'lockingposition in-which it holds s in engagement with the teeth of the pins the said means being releasable in order to enable the sleeve or cap-to'be-withdrawn so-as-t'o unlock the pins for-setting purposes.

The pins may be provided in their ex posedfaces with projecting lugs or the like so as to-enalole them to be readily grasped and the plate may be provided with numbered graduations corresponding to the number of teeth on the pins, so that the setting of each pin is readily visible. Each pin is also preferably numbered toenable its setting to be noted. 7

The pins providedwithzrack teeth can bemoved only by steps, each step corresponding to the pitch of the teeth, which has the advantage that the pins can be set only in exactly pre detera mined positions, andQfurther the pinscan be set in the dark-or by a'blind person since,when:the

pins areshifted, the clicking of the .resilientrdep tent over the teeth of the pins can bQJheald Ol. felt andthe number of steps-can be'counted.

The handle portion of the key "is preferably curved, or provided with curved wings and the pins are so adjusted that when the handleiis grasped between the thumb and forefinger o-frthe right hand with the concave side against :the thumb, which is the natural way of holding-the key, the key will be the right way up for insertion in the look. In the case ot'leitehanded persons, if as is preferable, the operative. end iof the the pins canibe reversed so the manner described be the" light way The advanta e is in the left hand, it will again Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the key, partly in section; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV--IV'of Fig. 1; Fig, 5 is a perspective view or bits;

' l4, I5, l6 and II;

pin being marked with a different numeral from 1 to 6. In Fig. 5 the portion 9 of the pin 1 is shown of dovetail form for engagement with a groove 5' having a similarly shaped central portion. When the central portions of the grooves 5, however, are T-shaped as shown in Fig. 4 the portions 9 of the pins 1 will, of course, also be T-sha-ped.

The thinner end oflthe plate 4: is marked on each side of the threegroo'ves 5 with graduations The 'graduations l4 and I6 are aligned, while the graduations l5 and i1,

of one of the pins 7 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the means for locking the cap;

Fig. 7 is a section through a modified form of leaf spring detent; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective View thereof. -",Referring to the drawings, the key comprises .ahandle portion I having a bow-shaped end 2.

The handle portion ,1 is in the form of a sleeve ,3 in which a portion 4 for holding the pins or bitsis a'sliding fit. The portion 4 is in the form .of a plate the thickness of which up to the point A in Figs. 1 and 2 is approximately equal to the internal widthv of the sleeve 3, while beyond this point, that is to the right-hand side of this point in-Figs. 1 and 2, the thickness is reduced. The plate 4 is provided on each side with three grooves .5 which extend over the entire length of the plate. The Icentral portions of the grooves, approximately between theright-hand end of the handle portion l and the point A in Figs. 1 and 2, are'undercut,"i.- e. T-shaped in section as shown in Fig. 4 or maybe dove-tailed. The rear portions 6 of the grooves which are enclosed by the :handle I in Fig. 1 are not undercut but are slightly wider, their width being equal tothat of the ;undercut of-the1central portions, and'the portions -of the grooves in-the thinner portion of the plate 4 to the rightof thepoint A in Fig. law also;

not undercut and are of the same width as the central portions of the grooves above the undercut. a 7

The bits or'pins '1,'all3of which are identical,

each consist of a bar composed of an outerre'c- ,tangular portionfl, which is a sliding fit in the outer portion of the'grooves 5, acentral -T-shaped portion 9 which is a sliding fit inthe-central T- sha-ped portion of the grooves 5 and a rear porti'on I 0, the width of which is equal to that of the "wider portion 6 of 'thegroovesfi. The upper sur- --face of 'therear portion 10 is formed with nine :teeth H wherebytenindentations or'tooth gaps (are formed. The heighth of the portions 8 and -9' ofthe' pins is such that, whenthe pins are slid into thegrooves 5, the upper surfaces of these portions are flush withthe surface of the'thicker portion of the plate' Las shown in Fig. 4, while 7 in 'the thinner portion of theplate to the right of :thepoint A the'pins project out of the grooves as shown in Fig. 2. The height of the teeth- I l is "such that the tips of the teeth are slightly below fth'esurface'fof'the portions 8 and 9,so that a small space is left [between th'etips of the teeth and the 'inneisurface of the sleeve 3 when in- A 0 'sert e-d overthe plate 4 and the ends'of the pins threin. Each pin is 'formed with a lug'or pro- 'jection l2 which acts as a means'for setting the "pins-andismarked with'a numeral l3. In the keyillustrated in which there are six pins, each t which are also aligned, are half-way between the tween the graduatio ns l5 are marked with the even numbers 0-8 and the spaces between the .gra'duations I 6 with the odd numbers l-9. When in their innermost positions the outer ends of the pins 1 are in line with the first graduation of the graduations M and I6, i. e. opposite the numeral 0,

as shown in Fig. 1 in the caseof the'bit identified by the number .6. When moved from their innermostlpositions through a distance equal to the pitch of the teeth II the outer ends of the pins are in line with thefirst graduationrof thegraduations i5 and i1 and when moved'againthrough adistance equal .to the pitch of one tooth they are 7 in line with the second graduationof the graduations. I4 and Hi, i'. e. Opposite the numeral 2, and

soon. In the 'spacebetween .the teeth I l and the sleeve 3 there is fixedto the plate '4 by means of rivets vHi a leaf spring I 9 which is'separated by two slots 20 into three sections, each of, which is provided with a .detent 2|, which is formed by bending the end. ofthe spring .inwards and: engages in the gaps. between the teeth I]. ,When .the sleeved is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the detents 2l are held in engagement with theteeth I! and the pins I cannot be shifted. Whenthe sleeve I is shifted to theleft-inFiglll so that the'spring I9 is exposed, it is possible to set the pins Tints any desired positionv by: pushing on the lugs over the teeth. I'l as'the pins are moved; The movement of the sleeve [relative to the plate l in steps, each step corresponding to the pitch of the teeth 1],; since, as a pinis displaced, the detent Zl clicks ratchetwise over .the teeth l-|. The graduationsJ' l, l5, l6 and ll, are, of course,

'soarranged that the end'of feachpin, when in any-of; the ten-positionswhich it can occupy,

is exactly opposite' one of the 'graduations, for example, theuppermost pin in Fig." 1 is opposite the seeondgraduation of the graduations I4, as

; indicated by the numeral ibetwe en the graduations" l5, 1 denoting :that this pin has been displaced by two steps orrtwice the pitch of' the teeth from its 'innermostposition.

"-The' sleeve l is :al'solprovided with locking meanswhich ensures :that the-sleeve is normally locked in the position shown in Fig. l in which the 'pins Tare fixed-imposition. For thispurpose'each 7 of the springs ;l9.-is-.provided-with arearward' extension 23 having a detent '24 formed by bending the spring ginwardlig, and a detents-engaging member 25 is fitted'in. aspace between the end pf the p1ate,4 and the end bifthe sleeve l. 7 The member? 25' is ;formed' with a circular boss 26 whiqhfistumab y fi ted in aperture ini e 'n yield so-as v 'the pins have been adjusted, the sleeve I is'slid of the sleeve I and. is fitted with a milled head 21 which is fixed on a square extension 28 of the bos's 26, The member 25 at the end adjacent the end of the sleeve I is of the shape shown in 'Figi ;3 and is provided on opposite sides with an outwardlyextendingstep 29 over-which the detents 24 normally engage, as shown} in Fig. 2.

The unde'rsurface of the step 29 is inclined'as 'dr'awn'." By turning the milled'head 21, however,

the-detents 24 are disengaged from the steps against the action of the spring 3| and the sleeve I is free to be withdrawn to an extent which is limited by the screws 22 abutting against the left-hand ends (in Figs. 1 and 2) of the grooves in the edges of the plate 4. The springs ISl'are thereby exposed and the detents 2| are "able to to allow the pins to be set. After back to the position illustrated in which the pins are locked in the positions in which they, have been set. (When the sleeve I is slid backxthe detents 24 engage the inclined'undersurfacesqitfl of the steps 29 and thereby automatically rotate "the member25 through a small angle against the actionoi the spring 3| untilthe detents 24xare level with the surfaces of the steps", whereupon the member 25Jis-turned back again by its: spring 3| until it is in the position shown in Fig. :3; in

which the detents 24 engage over the steps29,

and the sleeve. is locked in position. -=The "sleeve I is 'formed with curved wingsnas shownin'Fig: 1, 'so that the key wlillinaturallybe held the right way up for insertion in the .lock, as described previously. H i I It will be noted that whereasa longitudinal movement of the handle portion relative to the 'plate 4-can effect the locking of thepins, an

additional movement, namely rotationiof the head 21,-} is necessary to' effect the unlocking of the pins; Such additional movement isnot' one which would-normally bemade in handling' the key or i serting "it in and withdrawing it from'the 100k, "nd-'conseduently the pins cannot accidentally become unlocked, for example owing to the :key stickingin the lock,- when the key is usedin the normal manner. 7 8 'illustratean alternative ior-m of the leaf spring I 9 which carries "the detents 2 I.

' As shown in these figures"; the sides I9 of each of the three springs into which the spring I9 is divided'by the slots 20 are bent towards the sleeve 3, the lines of bending being inclined, as shown in Fig. '7, to the sides of the springs. A tooth 2'I' is thus indented or pressed at or near the end of each of the individual springs, the tooth projecting in the opposite direction to the bent portions I9. The action is substantially the same 'as that previously described, but thisconi- 'struction has the advantage that, owing -tothe bent portions I9, the teeth 2| are held firmly in the tooth gaps of the pins so that the latter are firmly held even if there should be a slight amount of play between the outer surface of the spring I9 and the inner surface of the sleeve 3.

I claim:

1. An adjustable key for cylinder locks comprising a holder, a plurality of pins displaceable lengthwise in said holder, means whereby said pins may be locked in any positions in which accidental shiftingthey have been set and'may be'unlocked to enable them to be 'displaced and means whereby, when said 'pin'sare unlocked, eachv pin is individually retained in its adjusted position against but 'may be forcibly displaced in-either directicn for settingpu'rposes; 2f adjustable key for cylinder locks comprising a holder, a plurality of'pins displaceable l ef gthwi'se insaidholden a plurality of teeth on each of saidpins; a plurality ofdetents attached to said holder, each of said detents being engageq able with the teeth ofone of said pins and releasable meansf whereby said detents may either be held in engagement with the teeth of said pins or may be released to such an extent that the "pins may be forcibly displaced in either direction fo'r"setting purposesbut are nevertheless retained in their adjusted positions against accidentalshiftingz 3. An adjustable key for cylinder locks comprising a holder, a plurality of pins displaceable lengthwise" in said holder; aplurality of teeth on'each of .saidspins,-aplurality20f resilient detents attached to saidholder and. each engageable with the teeth of" one of said pins and releasv able means-"whereby said detentsmayeither-be held in engagement'with the teeth oisaid pins or may be released to such arr-extent that the pins :may beiorcibly 'displaced'in either direction for setting. purposes but are nevertheless retained in their: adjusted positions against accidental shifting. A I

1 4; Anadjustable ,keyforcylinder locks comprising a holder; .a plurality" of pins *displaceable lengthwise-in said holder, a plurality of teeth on each-pf? said plus; a plurality of detents attached tosaid holder-and each, engageable with the teeth ofronerofthe said-;.pins, a displaceable sleeve on said holder surrounding said detents, said sleeve being movable into two positions in one of which said detents are held engagement-withsaid, teeth and :in the other of which said; detents are free to yield sot atwsaidrpins can: beg-moved,

and means whereby. said sleeve is; automatically position. -i 1, m 2:495. "Al'li adjustable "key as claimed; in? claim; 4; in which the means forllocking said sleevecomprises 'a' detnt memberipivoted in the sleeveand' a det'ent attached to the holderaixz; :5 1 l '6. gAnl adjustable key: for cylinder r locks. .,com-. prising: aholder,-a plurality of pins displaceable lengthwise in: s'aidznolder, means: comprising a member displaceable on said holder whereby said pins may. be locked in the. position in whichthey have been =-set and maybeunlocked to :-enable themato .bewdisplaced, means whereby each pin, Whenumocked; is: individually retained in; its ad- =j usted positionagainst accidental shifting, and mea'ns wherelciy said displaceable member is an;- .tomaticallylocked when moved into the position irmvhich' said pinsare lockedli p r :91, 17:. An adjustable 1-key :ior cylinder locks "com? prising a plate, groovesin said plate-,pins slidable .in said grooved-teeth formed'on 0H8' 9I1(1 f each of said pins, detents attached to said plate and each resiliently engaging the teeth of one of said pins, and a sleeve engaging over the end of said plate and detents, said sleeve being movable into two positions in one of which said detents are held in engagement with said teeth, and in the other of which said detents are free to yield so that said pins can be shifted in said grooves.

8. An adjustable key for cylinder locks comprising a plate, grooves in said plate, pins slidable 7 infisaid gro'ovespteethrformed onone: end-of" eachofi 'saidipinsrleaf sprin'gsn attached to saida-plate, teeth on saidrspringsmeng'aging;theteeth on eachoft?" m' ;.;andr-a sleeve :engaging -iover the end ofisaid'plateland'zsaid-cleaf springs; said sleeve "being movablaintogtwo-positions in one ofv which said: teeth on? said 'springse-are held I in; engagem nt 'With"the teeth-on said :pins andem-the otheroi which=said teeth on said'sp fings are free to yieldssothat-"said? pin's1-.can be; shifted in said grooves-5:; r

9. .''An adfiustablei -keywfor cylinder flocks comprising -aa ;holder;- a plurality of: pins displaceable lengthwisehr saidholder-,pazplurality of teeth on on' e'rid of;eachiof said pins*aplurality of deten't s'zattajcheditosaidrh'older andveach engageable withithe' teeth ref 50116 f:saidrpinsgvarsleeve displaeeablerion saidi' holderand surrounding said detents, said sleeve being movableintotwo posi-' tions irf 'Olf1 0fi whiohvrsaidzf detentsar heldin 'eifgageihent with "said teethgand in the 'other of which said 'detents arenas to*= yield so; that i said pins can "e' shifted; a' detent" pivoted in the 'end oi said: sleeve; n'd; a cooperatingudetentmember attaehed to saidiplate and automaticallysengaged whe 'n' said-isleeve is kmoved into'is'aid first-men ti'o'ne' positioni I 1 1 adjustable key-Tas claimed in "claim 9, in w ch 5 'i'd detents engaging 'tl'ie teethfof the pins and aid detent Iri'ember atta'ch'edito said plate a-re" constituted on eacli side of the plate. by a single leaf spring. 7

--1 1 An 'adjustable' key as 'claiinedin claim 9; in

whieh saiddeten't pivoted' in the end of-Saidsleeve is eon'riectied to' ani' opeiiat'ing member disposed outsiaei-mesleev 'g 'soitliat -said pivoted det'ent can ld 'released byactiiating: saidxoperating: member.

12F- n adjustable key for' cylinder locks com 4 I a; -holde"r; a plurality 'of pins dis'placeable lengthwise in" said: 5 ho1der,*= meansincluding a sieeve displaeeableou s "d memb'er whereby said 'pins' in'ay b'e 'loeked' in any "posltions 'in' which *be displaced; means-whereby; when pins ai"'u!i1b'cke'd 'eaIChi pin is. individually retained in its adjusted position against *accii-r dental-"shifting rbuttmaybe: forcibly displacedfor settin ;v urposes a idet'entrmember rpivotall mount'ed 'withii'r saidsle'eve, a detent attached to I said holder and adapted'izitw be engaged by said detenimnemberwhensaid jpinsare locked by said \sleeva -and" means 'lo'date'di outsidesaid-c sleeve wherebyfsaid detent memberi caniberrelea'sed from saiddetentl i r 13.:.A'n 'adjiistablerkey for; cylinder locks com"- prising a. holder? a: plurality of 'pinsdisplaceable shifted, and a curvedi handle, .portion fO II-nillg part of said sleevefl leis-An adjustable key me nness-10ers;com;

prising -a holder, i-a' pluralityof} pinsedisplaeeabl'e lengthwise said holder aplurality:OLteethion one end -01": each of' said pins a plu'ralityipfJde tents attachedto saidholder wand each engage ableg=with the teeth of one of saidpinata-sleevedisplaceable on said holdenand. surrounding-said detents; said, sleeve being-#movable into, two.

sitions-v ineone: of-= which -saiddetents-v are held; a m nt .withi'said-steeth and in the=other oi 3 which :said-detents-fareefree to yieldssosthatis d pinszica-n be shifted in said groovesaadetentsp oted in= the fend-of s-said sleeve, and a cooperating detent; m'emberwhich--is: attached to =said plate' ofsaidbins;:detents-attached to :said plate resiliently: engaging said? teeth; a -sleeve engage:

ingsoveri the end ofi: saidplate'and detents,=:- saiel sleeve being fmovable intotwo --?positions-. in? one of' :wliieli. "said detentsare held--in:-. engagement with: said 'teeth; andrin the other of WhiCh'fSaid detents are free, rte .yield--.= so' that Ssaid pins'r canv be shiftedin saitl grooves: I i A IGJAn adjustable 'keyt-for TcyIin-der: 1ocks:-:com

prising a ho1der;:arp1urality; :of pin-s'rdi'splabeablee'aolii ofrsai'd joins; a plurality of resilient; detents attached to said -holder-andweach engageable with the teeth of one of said pins; a sleeva displaceg ab1e'-:-in*=the longitudinal directionofr said pinssurround-ingi said d'etents and being'smovable. -into two-positions one- 0f which-said detents' re' lengthwise-in said holder; apluralityof teeth: on 1 ea'ch of: said pins; a: plurality ioi" detents "each attached to" said: holder i'an'd' engageable with the teeth of 'one ofi-said pins'; a displaceable sleeve on said holder: surrounding said" detents; :said sleeve 'being movabl'e iiito two'positions in one of' hieh said detents'are hel'd in-engaigement with teeth": arid i'ni the otherofi which "said deteniis -are -free"towieldso that said pins 'can be held in' engagement with isaids teethsand means whereby said sleeve is-automaticalk: locked whens" movedw into; said first-mentioned position andFme'ans-operable: by a movementtransverse the %long.tiu dina1. direction n saidepins whereby EEERENCES oltrn'bxf The 'fdl-lowing 'references"are of reoord? iri-th'e BERNARbi-srnaNER 

